2007-01-18 17:48:07 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Pure water freezes at 0°C, but the freezing point can be lowered by dissolving salt in the water. If the solution is then cooled to below the new freezing point, water crystals (i.e. ice) will start to form. As a result, the remaining saline solution becomes further concentrated, until the saturation point is reached. This intersection of the freezing point line and the saturation point line is referred to as the eutectic point. Below the eutectic point, salt crystals will be formed in addition to the water crystals. Now water has the special property that its solid state weighs less than its liquid state. If this isn’t the case, much of the open water on earth would freeze, as each new ice crystal would sink to the bottom. Ice skating wouldn’t be possible until all the water in a lake had frozen solid. This special property of water is put to good use in a process called Eutectic Freezing Crystallisation (EFC). As salt crystals form near the eutectic point, they sink to the bottom of a solution while the ice crystals rise to the surface. Typically, the difference in density between ice and salt crystals is of the order of magnitude of one kilogramme per litre. The result of the process is a separation by physical means, allowing the two components of the solution to be readily isolated.
2007-01-19 00:13:49 · answer #1 · answered by rajeev_iit2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No saltwater can not freeze but if you get it cold enough it will start to force out the salt and the ice that forms is fresh water floating in an ever stronger solution of brine until it reaches the saturation point and then it wont grow any more ice
2007-01-18 18:07:03 · answer #2 · answered by chewie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Icebergs are not made of frozen salt water. Icebergs are calved off glaciers and ice shelves and are fresh water ice from snow deposits.
Sea ice is frozen sea water and is salty. In time, the salt percolates through the ice leaving unsalty ice behind but the initial freezing of the sea has salt in the ice.
2007-01-18 18:23:12 · answer #3 · answered by tentofield 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but it will take a little bit longer to freeze it up because the temperature that the saltwater will freeze is cooler than water
2007-01-18 17:58:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but it must be very cold. What do you think Icebergs are made of.
2007-01-18 17:51:16 · answer #5 · answered by alwaysmoose 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Duh. Ever hear of the Arctic Ocean? You just have to get it a lot colder than freshwater, because the salt interrupts the crystal structure.
2007-01-18 17:52:25 · answer #6 · answered by purrr:) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. i have walked on it many times..in fact i have drove my car on it
2007-01-18 17:57:03 · answer #7 · answered by newfiemonger 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋